As protests rage, accused’s widow shifted to govt shelter
The widow of Nepalese national Suraj Singh, who died in police custody after being accused of the rape and murder of a schoolgirl in Kotkhai, was on Saturday shifted to women’s shelter Nari Niketan in Shimla for security purposes.
Mamta, 22, who was whisked away from her village Hilaila after she recorded her statement before a judge in Theog on Friday, was first taken to Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC) where she identified the body.
She has been provided roundthe-clock security at the Nari Niketan as people remain restive among beliefs that Suraj may have been used as a cover-up by the actual culprits.
Suraj was allegedly strangled by another suspect, Rajendra Singh, during a scuffle at the Kotkhai police station on Tuesday night. The duo was among the six men arrested for the gang rape and murder of the 16-year-old. In an attempt to assuage the outraged public, the government announced that it would upgrade the victim’s school to senior secondary level and name it after her. In the process, however, the government revealed her name. The law says a victim’s identity must not be revealed in cases of sexual assault.
The spokesperson said nine additional posts of teaching staff have been created for the school for which notification has been issued. Deputy commissioner Rohan Thakur had visited the victim’s family who had demanded the upgrade.
Meanwhile, the CBI on Saturday said it had registered two cases on the July 19 orders of the Himachal Pradesh high court in connection with the gang rape and murder of the girl and into the accused’s custodial death.